Used in attacks· fix by 2021-11-177.8HighUsed by ransomware gangs
Microsoft Win32k
CVE-2021-1732
Microsoft Win32k contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.
What this means for your business
- It affects Microsoft Win32k. It matters if your company, or a supplier that handles your data, runs it.
- Attackers are already using it. CISA added it to its list of flaws used in real attacks on 3 November 2021.
- Ransomware gangs are known to have used it.
- An attacker can use it only with access to the machine itself, with an ordinary user login, and without anyone at your company clicking anything.
- FIRST's prediction model gives it a 78% chance of attack attempts being seen in the next 30 days, ranking above 99% of all known flaws.
What to do
- 1Check whether your company or your suppliers run Microsoft Win32k, and which version. The affected versions are listed further down this page.
- 2If you do, apply the vendor's fix. A patch or vendor advisory has been published.
- 3Treat it as urgent. US federal agencies must fix it by 17 November 2021. That deadline does not apply to private companies, but it shows how seriously CISA takes it.
- 4Because attackers have used it, check the affected systems for signs of a break-in, not only for the update.
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Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA’s wording, unedited.
Scoring
- CVSS
- 7.8 (v3.1)
- Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness
- CWE-787
- Assigned by
- secure@microsoft.com
Dates
- Published
- 2021-11-03
- Last modified
- 2026-08-12
- Added to KEV
- 2021-11-03
- Remediation due
- 2021-11-17
- Sources
- CISA KEV, NVD
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 1803all versions
- Microsoft Windows 10 1809all versions
- Microsoft Windows 10 1909all versions
- Microsoft Windows 10 2004all versions
- Microsoft Windows 10 20h2all versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 1909all versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 2004all versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019all versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 20h2all versions
As listed in the NVD configuration data. Not a statement about your estate.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161880/Win32k-ConsoleControl-Offset-Confusion.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166169/Win32k-ConsoleControl-Offset-Confusion-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-1732
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-1732